ISA Will-DuPage – The Silver Anniversary is Upon Us

Where We’ve Been

We’ll be celebrating our 25th anniversary next year. To me this doesn’t just mean 25 years of our section being around. It represents a huge amount of work on the part of volunteer board members. Tabletop Shows and Golf Outings don’t just happen. There are many big tasks, and hundreds of small tasks that must be coordinated. It’s too much for even a few people, so we’ve got 16+ board members now, everyone pitches in.

I’m not looking for a pat on the back, but here’s my point: Many of these board members are original or have been doing this for many years! Why would an industry professional; engineer, technician, and salesperson, who are as busy as anyone else, give up some of their own time to make these things happen year after year?

I’ve been part of volunteer organizations before. I’ve learned a few things, met some interesting people, and did some good. After a while, I’ve moved on.

Not here. There’s something that keeps these people coming back. I think it’s slightly different for each of us.

I’d recommend asking one of these mature board members exactly what makes them to the things they do. You might be surprised.

Where We’re Going

We’ve been talking for the past couple of years about the average age of the people in our section. We haven’t been getting any younger. This was a call to action…bring in some young blood.

I’m glad to say that we have had some success and we’ve got eight relatively new, and young, board members. These people are sharp and eager to make things happen, and they don’t need help getting out of their chair.

I’d recommend asking one of these young board members exactly what their plans are. You might be surprised.